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                    = THE GLASS FACTORY. =                    
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¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† SEVERAL  CENTURIES  AFTER  IT  HAD  LAST †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ BELONGED TO US, WE  WENT ON AN OUTING TO ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨- THE GLASS FACTORY THAT BORE  OUR  FAMILY -¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ NAME.  IT HAD  CHANGED OWNERS MANY TIMES ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† SINCE  OUR  ANCESTORS  DEATH,  AND  THEN †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= STOOD   ABANDONED   FOR  A  LONG  WHILE. =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ FINALLY,  THE  NATURAL  END  STATION FOR £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££ THE  BUILDINGS  THAT SURVIVE:  A MUSEUM, ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ AND A GIFT SHOP.                         £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨-~†=£££#                                          #£££=†~-¨¨
¨-~†=£££## THERE'S A  LONG  TIME  SINCE  MY  FAMILY ##£££=†~-¨
¨¨-~†=£££# MADE  ANYTHING. BY  MANY,  WE  WOULD  BE #£££=†~-¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ CONSIDERED POOR.                         £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££                                          ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ THERE ARE TWO  MAIN  FACTORY  BUILDINGS, £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= DOMED THINGS OF SEVERAL FLOORS, MADE  IN =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† YELLOW BRICK.  LARGE BUT NARROW WINDOWS, †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ REMINESCENT     OF    SOME    CATHEDRAL. ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨- CUSTOM-MADE GLASS,  OF COURSE, LARGE AND -¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ LEADED, AND ASHEN.  A BIT TOO DARK TO BE ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† PRACTICAL.  ON  THE  EASTERN   BUILDING, †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= SOME ARE SHATTERED.                      =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£                                          £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££ THE OTHER ONE  IS PUBLICLY OPEN. THERE'S ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ A MUSEUM,  WITH WAX FIGURES  OF MY GREAT £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨-~†=£££# GREAT GREAT GRANDFATHER,  OR  SOMETHING. #£££=†~-¨¨
¨-~†=£££## VARIOUS TOOLS (OR  REPLICAS) LAID OUT ON ##£££=†~-¨
¨¨-~†=£££# TABLES, WITH  EXPLAINING TEXTS. A LOT OF #£££=†~-¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ GLASS     OF      VARYING     THICKNESS. £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££                                          ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£                    ==                    £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†=                  ==  ==                  =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†         ~~~~~~~ =      = ~~~~~~~         †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~                  ==  ==                  ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-                    ==                    -¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~                                          ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† I QUICKLY SNEAK  OUT, AND CLIMB INTO THE †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= OTHER   BUILDING.   THE    CONTRAST   IS =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ OVERWHELMING.   IT   MUST   HAVE   STOOD £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££ DERELICT  FOR  A   LONG  TIME,   WINDOWS ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ BROKEN,  METALLIC  TRASH  AND  POOLS  OF £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨-~†=£££# DARK  GLASS  ALL  OVER  THE  FLOOR.   NO #£££=†~-¨¨
¨-~†=£££## ELECTRIC LIGHTS, BUT  I CAN  SEE  BY THE ##£££=†~-¨
¨¨-~†=£££# LIGHT THAT SHINES IN WHEREVER  THE  DARK #£££=†~-¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ WINDOWS     ARE    MISSING    A    PANE. £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££                                          ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ HOWEVER, THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE  IS THE £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= HIGHER FLOORS: THIS  BUILDING HAS  NONE. =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† IT IS  ONE MASSIVE HALL, STRETCHING AWAY †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ INFINITELY ABOVE ME. SOMEWHERE UP  THERE ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨- IS SOME  GREAT  IRON  LATTICEWORK,  FROM -¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ WHERE  CHAINS ARE  SUSPENDED, AND  PARTS ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† OF  MACHINERY  HAS  BEEN  FALLING  DOWN. †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†=                                          =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ THERE IS, IN  THE  MIDDLE OF  THE  GREAT £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££ HALL,   A  THIN  SPIRAL  STAIRCASE  THAT ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ LEADS UP THERE. I SNEAK  OVER THERE, AND £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨-~†=£££# TAKE  A FEW RELUCTANT  STEPS. AFTER JUST #£££=†~-¨¨
¨-~†=£££## A  REVOLUTION,  I  NOTICE THAT FOR  EACH ##£££=†~-¨
¨¨-~†=£££# STEP  THE BUILDING STARTS  TO GLOW,  THE #£££=†~-¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ BRICKS  TURNING  A  DARK RED,  AND  THEN £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££ ORANGE,  ALL  THE PILED  UP DEBREE BEING ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ LIT FROM BEHIND.                         £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†=                                          =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† I STOP READY TO  RUN  DOWN  AND OUT, BUT †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ THERE'S  SOMEONE ELSE  ON THE  STAIRCASE ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨- WITH   ME  NOW,  PRESSED   CLOSE.   HE'S -¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ LOOKING LIKE  ME, SHORT  HAIR  AND  THIN ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† ARMS, BUT  WITH  EARS FROM  SOME ANIMAL, †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= AND MORE  DISTURBINGLY,  COMPLETELY MADE =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ OF DARK LIQUID GLASS.                    £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££                                          ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££                    ==                    £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨-~†=£££#                  ==  ==                  #£££=†~-¨¨
¨-~†=£££##         ~~~~~~~ =      = ~~~~~~~         ##£££=†~-¨
¨¨-~†=£££#                  ==  ==                  #£££=†~-¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££                    ==                    £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££                                          ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ MY FEAR  HOLDS  ME  IN  PLACE  WHILE  HE £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= STARTS  OPERATING LEVERS  AND  DIALS SET =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† IN THE CENTER OF THE STAIRCASE.  SLOWLY, †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ IT  STARTS  SPINNING,  CIRCLING UPWARDS. ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨- IT'S  AN  ELEVATOR!   I   START  TO  RUN -¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ DOWNWARDS,  BUT   NOW  THE  LIQUID   BOY ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† CREATURE  GRABS  HOLD  OF ME.  I  TRY TO †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= SHAKE HIM OFF, BUT HE'S TOO STRONG,  AND =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ PULLS    ME    BACK   UP   BESIDE   HIM. £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££                                          ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ THIS  TIME,  I TURN ANGRY  INSTEAD. WHAT £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨-~†=£££# THE  HELL? WHO IS THIS GUY, ACTING  LIKE #£££=†~-¨¨
¨-~†=£££## THIS? I REACH OUT  MY FREE ARM  AND SLAM ##£££=†~-¨
¨¨-~†=£££# A  RANDOM  LEVER.  SOME  METAL  BAR   IS #£££=†~-¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ SUDDENLY  RELEASED BETWEEN  US,  HITTING £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££ HIM ON THE ARM, FORCING  MY  RELEASE.  I ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ SHOVE  HIM OFF OF ME,  AND HE FALLS INTO £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= THE    LEVERS,    MESSING    THEM    UP. =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† IMMEDIATELY,   A  THIN  RUSTY  CHAINMAIL †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ CURTAIN IS DROPPED  AROUND ME.  BUT  THE ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨- ELEVATOR  ALSO  SPEEDS UP SIGNIFICANTLY. -¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~                                          ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† THE   WALLS  ARE  FLARING  NOW,  YELLOW, †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= WHITE, ALMOST BLUE.  I CLOSE MY EYES AND =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ CURL  INTO A BALL.  BUT THEN,  THE GLASS £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££ BOY  SCREAMS,  A  PIERCING  SOUND   THAT ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ FORCES MY EYES BACK OPEN.  I WATCH AS HE £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨-~†=£££# BECOMES  TOO  LIQUID, HIS  BODY  POOLING #£££=†~-¨¨
¨-~†=£££## DOWN IN HIS  NOW  MASSIVE TAIL, AND  THE ##£££=†~-¨
¨¨-~†=£££# TIP  OF IT SUDDENLY BREAKS OF IN A GLASS #£££=†~-¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ DROP  THAT  FALLS   TOWARD  THE  FACTORY £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££ FLOOR.                                   ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£                                          £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= HE'S CRAWLING ON THE STAIRS,  UNABLE  TO =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† KEEP  HIS BODY  UPRIGHT. CAN'T REACH THE †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ LEVERS,  CLAWS  AT  MY  CHAINMAIL  CAGE, ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨- WHILE  HIS  BODY  IS  TURNING  INTO DARK -¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ PEARLS.  FINALLY,  HE'S LOST TOO MUCH OF ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† HIMSELF AND  THE  SCREAM  IS CUT  SHORT. †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= THE   LAST    OF    HIM    RAINS   DOWN. =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£                                          £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££ I STILL  CAN'T  REACH  THE  LEVERS  FROM ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ WITHIN  MY  CAGE. LOOKING  UP,  I TRY TO £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨-~†=£££# MAKE  OUT  THE CEILING,  BUT  IT'S ALL A #£££=†~-¨¨
¨-~†=£££## WHIRLING SEA OF  COLOURS. BELOW ME GLOWS ##£££=†~-¨
¨¨-~†=£££# THE  HELLFIRE OF  THE FACTORY WALLS, BUT #£££=†~-¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ VERY FAINT.  I  SIT DOWN, CURL  BACK UP, £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££ BECOME STILL.                            ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£                                          £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†=                    ==                    =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†                  ==  ==                  †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~         ~~~~~~~ =      = ~~~~~~~         ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-                  ==  ==                  -¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~                    ==                    ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†                                          †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= A  LARGE CLUNK  SHAKES MY  ENTIRE  BODY, =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ AND  SNAPS  ME  BACK INTO  REALITY.  I'M £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££ BACK  AT  THE  FACTORY  FLOOR,  BUT  THE ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ STAIRS   ARE   STILL   MOVING  SLIGHTLY, £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨-~†=£££# CLICKING  IN PLACE, CARRYING ME THE LAST #£££=†~-¨¨
¨-~†=£££## FEW  CENTIMETERS.  I  CAME  FROM  BELOW, ##£££=†~-¨
¨¨-~†=£££# SOMEHOW.  THE  CHAINMAIL  IS  RETRACTED, #£££=†~-¨¨
¨¨¨-~†=£££ AND  I  SLOWLY   DISMOUNT  THE   STAIRS. £££=†~-¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨-~†=££                                          ££=†~-¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨-~†=£ SHAKING AND  CRYING, I MAKE  MY WAY OVER £=†~-¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨-~†= THE FACTORY FLOOR,  WADING  THROUGH DARK =†~-¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† GLASS MARBLES. A QUICK GLANCE DOWN,  AND †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~ I  SEE THERE'S  SOMETHING  FAINT  INSIDE ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨- THEM.   EMBRYOS?   ARE    THESE    EGGS? -¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~                                          ~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
¨¨¨¨¨¨¨-~† I   SHUDDER,   AND   CLIMB   BACK   OUT. †~-¨¨¨¨¨¨¨
                                                              
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